Man charged with manslaughter in fatal Eagle Point crash

Nov. 14--A Prospect man is in the Jackson County Jail on felony homicide and assault charges surrounding a fatal crash near Eagle Point late last year.

Jason Robert Renfro, 36, faces charges of first- and second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and misdemeanor driving under the influence of intoxicants leading up to a December crash on Highway 62 that killed an Eagle Point man and injured two others, according to a grand jury's indictment filed in Refro's case in Jackson County Circuit Court.

At about 2:35 p.m. Dec. 10, Renfro had been driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser wagon westbound on Highway 62 when he allegedly crossed the center line and collided with a Volkswagen Beetle near the Crystal Drive intersection, according to an earlier Oregon State Police release about the crash.

The first-degree manslaughter charge accuses Renfro of causing the death of the Volkswagen's driver, 70-year-old Rickie Ray Beer, under circumstances "manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life," while the second-degree manslaughter charge accuses Renfro of "unlawfully and recklessly" causing Beer's death, according to a grand jury's indictment dated Sept. 3.

Renfro also faces second-degree assault charges accusing him of causing serious injuries to Beer's passenger in the Volkswagen, Susan Rae Beer, and Renfro's passenger in the Chrysler, Lawrence Hunsley.

Jackson County sheriff's deputies arrested Renfro Thursday on the manslaughter warrant, and Renfro made his initial court appearance Friday.

At the hearing, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell ordered no early release from jail unless he posts 10% bond on bail set at $250,000. She further ordered GPS monitoring should he post bond, not to consume alcohol or intoxicants, not to drive without a license or insurance, and not to contact any of the victims or the victims' family.

Renfro's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 23.

Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MTCrimeBeat.

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